Taken from www.insurancehotline.com/preparing-your-car-for-the-winter-season/ In most areas of Canada, the winter season can significantly affect driving conditions, leaving you more prone to accidents. During the winter, even more so than other times of the year, it’s important to focus on defensive driving to protect yourself and keep your family safe and sound. Driving safely also helps keep your insurance rates down, while minimizing wear and tear on your vehicle. A big part of staying safe in the winter is making sure that your car is adequately prepared to handle whatever driving conditions you may face. Here are some steps you can take to prepare your vehicle and give yourself the best chance of staying safe over the winter months. 1. Make sure you have the right oil for your car.Check your owner’s manual for the right oil for your specific vehicle, but in general oil like 5W30 works better in cold weather conditions than thicker 10W30 or 10W40. The thinner the oil, the more easily it circulates to lubricate your engine in colder temperatures.
3. Check your tire pressure.Due to the colder air, your tire pressure tends to drop a little bit in the winter. Keeping your tires at the manufacturer’s recommended pressure makes your car easier to handle, making you safer on the roads and will even save you money by improving fuel economy! 5. Consider snow tires.If your area usually gets a significant amount of snow, it may be worth getting snow tires for your car during the winter months. Snow tires have deeper grooves that provide significantly more traction than all season tires, making them capable of stopping your car as much as 40% faster than all season tires. In addition, snow tires are made of a different type of rubber which allows them to maintain their flexibility even in very cold conditions. You’ll feel safer and more confident in your ability to adequately control your car, no matter what happens on the roads! 6. Make sure your antifreeze mixture is correct.Your coolant should be a 50-50 combination of antifreeze and water. If you’re unsure, you can buy an inexpensive antifreeze tester at most auto part stores. Having less than 50% antifreeze can leave your engine vulnerable to freezing up. 7. Make sure you keep an emergency kit in your car at all times.A well stocked emergency kit can be a lifesaver if you find yourself stranded on a highway in the middle of nowhere. A proper winter emergency kit for your vehicle includes:
8. Keep your gas tank as full as possible.Not only does this prevent you from running out of gas and being stranded, it also lowers the chance that your gas lines will freeze up due to water vapours and condensation in very cold weather. 9. Take your car in for a tune up prior to the first snow fall.
10. Have your brakes checked.If it’s been more than six months since your last brake check, have them checked again before the winter driving season. With the slippery road conditions that winter brings, being able to stop quickly is even more important than usual. Incorporating these seasonal checks can help keep your car running smoothly and safely throughout the winter season, giving you one less thing to worry about when you’re out on the road, and safer driving will keep you safe. Our service includes but not limited to recommending maintenance and repairs to keep you and your car safe -you decide if you want to go ahead.
4 Comments
11/1/2018 06:12:38 am
When it comes to preparing your old faithful for winter driving, a snippet of aftercare usually goes a long way. When Jack Frost is swinging in the air, as an operative, you need to ensure that your road companion has received the desired winter care that will help your vehicle to survive in the snowy environment. The ultra-cold climate can lead to some pretty disgusting challenges for your speed machine. So, you just need to do a complete vehicle checkup- including battery, tire pressure, tread depth, fluid level, oil, brake, engine electrical connection, spark plug etc, by hiring an accomplished automotive technician in order to have an icy day full of comfortable rides without any unanticipated inconveniences.
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11/2/2018 10:58:37 pm
Winter has many adverse effects on vehicles. During winter the roads are covered with snow. The drivers face difficulty in driving. So it is suggested to use winter tires during this time which provide better grip on the snowy road surface. Due to excess cold, the oil and other essential fluids become thicker during winter. Therefore it is recommended to use comparatively thinner oil and other essential fluids. The windshield wipers must be checked to make sure that they are in good condition. Tires must be checked for air pressure.
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12/11/2018 04:47:54 am
Winter is harsh for vehicles. During this season, due to excess cold, the viscosity of oil and other essential fluids increases and they become thick. So we should use comparatively thinner oil and other thinner fluids meant for winter only. Battery is affected the most during winter. So, it is suggested to conduct volt test on battery to check it's condition and if it is found to be in bad condition, it needs to be replaced. Besides this, it is recommended to use snow tires in our car to have a better grip on the snowy road.
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1/10/2019 05:13:57 am
To prepare our car for winter season, we have to take necessary steps. The author has mentioned some useful tips. We must choose the right oil for our car. We should follow the recommendation of the owner's manual. We should check the condition of the battery by performing volt test if it is more than 3 years old. Faulty windshield wipers affect the ability to see in wet weather conditions. So if the wipers are bent, twisted or don't clear the windshield properly then we have to replace them. Snow tires must be used instead of all season tires as they provide better grips.
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